VOA标准英语2008年-Guinea Unions Back Down From Strike

By Nico Colombant
Conakry
09 January 2008

Union leaders in Guinea have backed down from the threat of a general strike, after reaching an agreement with the government and long-standing President Lansana Conte over applying previous accords. The threat of the strike was brought about by a recent presidential decree firing the country's communications minister. VOA's Nico Colombant reports from the capital Conakry.

Guinea's planned strike action was rescinded¹ early Thursday just as it was about to begin.

One of the main union leaders, Rabiatou Serah Diallo, explained two committees will be set up to evaluate and follow progress of previous strike-ending deals.

She also gave a deadline of March 31 for progress to be accomplished².

President Conte has repeatedly broken a previous accord giving the current prime minister, Lansana Kouyate, broad powers.

Mr. Kouyate was named prime minister after deadly union-led protests last year for better governance.

President Conte recently fired the communications minister, something only the consensus³ prime minister should have been allowed to do.

The firing followed a battle of communiqués marking the new year - the first, a presidential address on the internet which said the government was performing poorly; the second, the communications minister saying whoever wrote the president's message was out of touch with reality.

Another union official, Mamadou Tanou Balde, says the strike was suspended in consideration of Muslim pilgrims returning from Mecca, and for young people who are passionate⁴ about soccer.

Guinea will play the opening match against host Ghana during the upcoming African Cup of Nations.

A presidential aide, a representative of business leaders, as well as lawmakers from both the ruling party and opposition⁵, all hailed the decision to avert⁶ the strike as being a step forward, away from possible violence toward constructive⁷ dialogue.

But earlier in the day, union leaders from the interior of Guinea, reacted angrily as it appeared the strike action would be rescinded.

Abdoul Gadiry Fofana said the unions would be better positioned to negotiate in a position of strength, with people power, during a general strike.

President Conte recently issued another decree giving powers of the prime minister to a presidential secretary. He has also refused to relinquish⁸ control over key economic interests, such as the central bank.

While the unions negotiated Wednesday, on the streets of Conakry, many residents said that they wanted, in their words, "total change", but were afraid of reliving last year's violence, in which nearly 200 people were killed, most of them shot dead by soldiers.

Mr. Conte has ruled resource-rich Guinea since a military coup⁹ in 1984, despite a crumbling¹⁰ infrastructure¹¹ and his own poor health.

1 rescinded   

v.废除，取消( rescind的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Rescinded civil acts shall be null and void from the very beginning. 被撤销的民事行为从行为开始起无效。 来自互联网
• They accepted his advice and rescinded the original plan. 他们听从了他的劝告，撤销了原计划。 来自互联网

2 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

3 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

4 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

5 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

6 avert   

v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等)

参考例句：

• He managed to avert suspicion.他设法避嫌。
• I would do what I could to avert it.我会尽力去避免发生这种情况。

7 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。

8 relinquish   

v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手

参考例句：

• He was forced to relinquish control of the company.他被迫放弃公司的掌控权。
• They will never voluntarily relinquish their independence.他们绝对不会自动放弃独立。

9 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

10 crumbling   

adj.摇摇欲坠的

参考例句：

• an old house with crumbling plaster and a leaking roof 一所灰泥剥落、屋顶漏水的老房子
• The boat was tied up alongside a crumbling limestone jetty. 这条船停泊在一个摇摇欲坠的石灰岩码头边。

11 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。